MILITARY HISTORY - THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT

These are one of the British Elite fighting forces and have the infamous "Red Beret" although it is actually Maroon and are called "The Paras".

They are primarily an Airborne and Heliborne Force but due to their tough training and discipline they are used in a wide range of roles and have built a worthy worldwide respect.

Many Countries have followed the same colour beret and idea of an Airborne force,

On 17th 1944 As part of "Operation Market Garden" Field Marshall Montgomerys plan the Parachute Regiment and American 82nd Airborne and 101st were dropped deep behind German enemy lines with 4 objectives to capture and hold these include - Grave, Eindhoven, Nijmegen the Last and deepest of the was the Bridge at Arnhem. This was the largest Airborne drop ever and was followed by a second wave including the Staffordshire regiment and Polish Brigade.

The idea was was to hold and secure each bridge (for 48 hours) along the route to allow XX Corps armour led by the Irish Guards and Guards Armoured Brigade including Grenadier and Coldstream Guards to punch a hole through and link up with each unit along the route. 3 of the 4 Objectives were held but the tanks could not break through and reach the paras.

The Paras were dropped amongst an Elite SS Panzer unit (9th SS Panzer Division) that were re-fitting there heavy panzers and held one end of the Bridge at Arnhem. Despite having no armour or proper anti-tank weapons (apart from the light PIAT) the PARAS held out for 5 days before being ordered to withdraw.

At present there are 4 Regular Battalions which can be identified by different coloured DZ Flashes. Red, Green, Blue and Black. There is also 10 Para (part time). One Battalion is permanatly attached to Special Forces units and a Pathfinder unit.

As part of 16th Air Assault Brigade (Q.R.F) Quick reaction force they are on standby.

Another one of the Parachute Regiments battle honours include the fierce fighting in the Falkland Islands 1982 and gained a reputation for their gritty determination and stamina buy carrying huge bergens and kit across harsh boggy terrain with payloads exceeding 100Ibs of kit and then fighting well defended dug in enemy positions.

The Parachute regiment have been awarded 5 Victoria Cross medals to date -